Clarks Fork Yellowstone River
The Clarks Fork, named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, flows through a deep, postcard-scenic canyon. The river carves a path between the Beartooth Mountains to the north and the Absaroka Range to the south. Its headwaters begin just east of Yellowstone National Park, flowing southeast, then curving through a deep canyon to head northeast into Montana and its convergence with the main channel of the Yellowstone River near Billings. more info
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The river, near the Montana-Wyoming border, straddles land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and plunges dramatically through a steep rock gorge more than 1,200 feet deep. With this steep gradient, the stream carves the Box. Solid granite walls tower above the river in a spectacular gorge. The sheer-walled canyon earned the Clarks Fork its wild and scenic status.
In 1991, following a decade of debate and growing support for federal Wild and Scenic legislation, the Clarks Fork became the first federal Wild and Scenic River in Wyoming. Protecting this natural wonder made sense because it would be both an inspiration for Wyoming citizens and a sustainable tourist attraction for guests to the state. The coalition of supporters included ranchers, hunters, conservation groups such as the Greater Yellowstone Coalition and the Sierra Club, and officials from the Shoshone National Forest. Congress voted to give 21 miles of the Clarks Fork a status that no other river in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem yet enjoys.
The river corridor offers something for everyone from the passive sightseer to the thrill-seeking daredevil. Those seeking magnificent views of the canyon can travel the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway along its southern bank. The route starts from the Beartooth Scenic Highway, and follows the river southeast. The panoramic views of the mountainous terrain and vistas of the canyons is breathtaking. The Chief Joseph Scenic Highway is part of the Nez Perce National Historic Trail. Chief Joesph's bank of the Nez Perce Indians traveled this route on their 1,200 mile odyssey from their Oregon homeland to the Bearpaw Mountains of northern Montana.
Along the northern bank, hikers can enjoy a trek into the backcountry for a long dayhike to several days of solitude. Along the way, hikers will encounter spectacular canyon vistas, varied ecologies, and forested river bottom. The Clarks Fork trail offers a great wilderness experience which relatively few hikers have discovered.
River running on the Clarks Fork is for the serious and the experienced. The river drops steeply, with narrow gorges, frequent waterfalls, and many portages. Even at low water levels, some stretches are not runnable and others require hurdling through Class V and VI rapids. The falls and portages make sections suitable only for kayakers. Expert kayakers consider these waters to be one of the most challenging bodies of water in the Lower 48. Only a handful of kayakers run it each year and they must wait for low water.
Besides wild whitewater, the quieter stretches of the Clarks Fork also offers a Class 1 Blue Ribbon trout fishery. The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River is surrounded by Yellowstone Park on one side and the Beartooth mountains on the other. It has 15 miles of free stone stream broken with pocket water in the upper section just below Cooke City, and drops into a steep sided canyon with long gravel bars and deep pools. The lower reaches where the river emerges from the Box onto BLM land is prime fishing territory. The river is loaded with stone flies and offers Brown Trout, Cutthroats, Rainbows, White Fish and Grayling. The Clarks Fork is not known for record-breaking size trout, but offers fly fisherman a real run for their money.
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and the Paradise Valley are stretches of the Yellowstone River that have made this amazing body of water famous. Maybe it is best the crowds flock to these areas, ensuring the Clarks Fork Yellowstone River remains a hidden gem. Designated as the Wild and Scenic Clarks Fork, this natural wonder remains a bit off the beaten path, attracting people of different affinities and passions. Its tumultuous waterfalls, whitewater cascades, deep pools, and rugged corridor lands are its unique characteristics.
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